Automatic overhead proofer



B. A. EVANS AUTOMAT I C O VERHEAD PROOFER Filed Feb. 23, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 50m/,450 A. 1/A

Feb. 6, 1940.

Feb. 6, 1940. B A, EVANS 2,189,243

AUTOMATIC OVERHEAD PROOFER Filed Feb. 23, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 LIQ:

Febo 6, 1940. a. A. EVANS AUTOMATIC OVERHEAD PROOFER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb, 23. 1938 Q rwowfo@ .ff/VAR@ A. 1/A

abba/man Feb. 6, 1940.

B. A. EVANS 2,189,243

AUTOMATI C OVERHEAD PROOFER Filed Feb. 23, 193s Wag. 4'.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 abro mm3 Feb. 6, 1940. B. A. EvANs 2,189,243

AUTOMAT I C O VERHEAD PROOFER Filed Feb. 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www Patented Feb., 6, 1940 AUTOMATIC N i s 1f-2,189,243

OVERHEAD* raconta Bernardi A. Evans, Joliet, Ill.; assgnor to 4 Champion MachineryCompany, Joliet, Ill. Y

Appncationrcbmary 23, 193s, serial No. 192,159,y

` 1e claims.(c1.19s-145) A `This invention relates to bakery equipment'and particularly to a proofer, the invention proofen There are certain general termed the straight dough method.v

' There is, however, a type of dough' made in bakeries'called the dough brake dough. In the manufacture of breadl from a regular or ordinary e type of dough the process starts with mixing the ingredients. After the dough is mixed it to a suitable dividing `machine which effects the division of the mass of dough into portions suitable for forming loaves or the like. `'l'he iorm for proofing. From the rounder the passes to the proofer. For the ordinaryitypes of doughthe loaf staysin the proofer for a certain number of minutes `to allow it to proo,'th e time 5. beingv all the way from ve to iifteen minutes,

y types of doughfthat 1 may be. subjected to proong in such a proofer. For instancesuch proofers ymay be used inbake shops for ordinary type doughs such as are m'ade by the lsponge method or that made by `w being operator.

able for shortening 'the proong time.

hat is is feddough dough It is 'also desirable in treating certain doughs of other than the dough brake type thatthe prooiing time should beshort and when this isf the casethenovel by-pa'ss arrangement is avail- ES) fl ais1v1fv OFFICE N ing reiationwitn the proofcr at the win ortho In `bakery practice, after? the dough is scaled in the divider to theweiglit of the loaf and rounded it is given la certain rest period or proon'g of between live to fteen minutes according to conditionsofthe dough. However,' it has been found 4in actual practice that if thisdough remains `in one position in a tray it will have a tendency to crust on the top side and sweat onthe under side To further improve thej product it is .found absolutely necessary thatrthey dough be `turned yonce in its travel throughtheproofer inorder y. that air may have access to all `sides ofthe dough L ad thus eliminate crusting and sweating in such,-4` doughs as require proong. A third important object of the invention is to provide a novel loaf inverting mechanism in a ,proofer for eecting i such turning of the dough masses, the mechanism being, from certain characteristics of its cori-` l according to tnciocnl atmospheric conditions and struction, preferably Vknown` asa delayedshelf the type of dough under manufacture. From the WDG 102i mvertlng mechanism. i

For making the dough brake type of loaf;

theny to the rnoulder. 'thatthe dough pass through the proofer in possible. be eliminated.

such proofer. i i

A second object of `the invention is l arrange the novel by-pass arrangement that it i 51 may betrcueht .inte and out fof 4effectiveby-pass.-

`which has entirely different characteristics from the regular type of bread, practically no intermediate proofing is necessary before it enters the moulder.

In either the treatment of ordinary types jof dough or in the treatment of dough brake dough it is desirable to so arrange the machinery that the saine divider;` rounder and moulder may b e used. It is, of course,` impracticableto rearrange the machinery of a bakery inchanging from one` l type of dough to another. As stated above; the dough passes from the rounder tothe proofer and Sincer it lis not desirable i to elongate the dough loaf as it is inverted`.

rect spacing thereon the loaves.

treatdrawings and `speciiically claimed.v

y .V invention are embodied. i to so With the above fand otherdobjects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, thefnvention consists `in `general of certain novel details ofjconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter mg thedOug-n brake type of dough, thelpassa-ge fully described, illustrated intheaccompanying "45 of dough through, the proofervmust, as Yfarfas -f `of `reference indicate like parts inthe several Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vewofa portion of the proofer from the sidelopposite that shown. .in Figure l. the, View; showinararticularly f A nah important object ofthe invention is` to provide a'novel loaf inverting mechanism `having guide means for the dough pieces Ato ensure cor- A sixthimportant object of the inventiongisto provide anovel proofer arrangementhaving fthe regular discharge fromthe proofer effected by the same typeof mechanism as is employed to invert `A fourth important object of the inventionfis s to provide a novel typeofloaf inverting mechanism ofsuch character that the mechanismtends' Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bakersvproofer wherein the mechanisms relating to the `present` `In the accompanying drawings like characters ing taken from the left of Figure 4 and the parts f being shown on the same scale `-as Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse section -through the horizontal portion of the Vproofer,

the View showingt'he arrangement of certain transverse conveyors used herein and much of the mechanism being omitted to'more' clearly bring out the parts shown.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of a portion `of the front wall of the proofer.

It is to be understood that certain instrumentalities'areused 'in connectionl with this invention' ibut which form'no vpart of the invention itself. Some of'thesefeatures are shown in outline Vlbut lnot in detail and these with othersnot 'y so shown will be referred to hereinafter in order 'thththe operation and advantages of the inventionmay be clearly comprehended.

It"will be seen from Figure l that the proofer structure includes a vertical leg I 0 Vfrom one side `of` the upper part .of which extends a hori- `Vzorit'al` leg Il. YFor convenience in the following 'description the; leglil will be referred to as the A{.r'e'rlevatorleg .and the leg II will be termed the ofer leg since the proofing of the dough is Yprincipally Veffected in the leg iI, the dough ftr'avelling in tlie`leg'lll for only la minor time. ,The leg Ill forms a vertical rectangular casing "and in the lower .end .of this casing at -theviront andrear sidesl thereof are pairs of idlers for the `chains Iof a chainr'conveyor used in the .proofen -The'idlers are positioned as at I2 and I3 so kas t`o` have`their (not shown) in spaced parallel relation close to the top o f the leg IQ and "directlyabove the idlers I2 are idlers I4. At the 1junction of the lowerpart of the leg II with the fleg VIIJ is a pair of idlers I5.

The 'leg II is inl the form of an elongated rectangular casing having a Afrarne I6 in the ,sides of which are mounted glazed access doors I'l.

leg I0 this casing is shown without ,doors and Atthe of the leg II remote 4from the in' this end ofthe vcasing isrmounted a pairy of upperidlers I8 ,directly below which is napair of 'lower idlers I9. vA pair of drive sprockets 20 are"located Vjust above the centervof the leg II the. upper end of the leg I!! and these drive sprockets are fixed on a shaft 2l extending trans- -versely of the casing. Conveyor chains :are

trained around these drive sprockets rand idlers so that each is provided with a bottomhoriz'ontal vstretch 22-between idlers I2 and I3,-an ascending stretch 23 between idlers I2 and Iyan upper outward stretch between idlersA i4 and'V I8,l an "upper inward stretch 25 between idlerfIS and drivesprocket 20, a lower outward stretch 2S between drive sprocket 20 and idler I9,fa lower 'inward stretch between idler lil and idler I5, and

v 'fadescending stretch 28'between idlers` I8 and I3.

It will be seen that thestretches 24, 25, 2b and u2Iare parallel. Theconveyorchains Ithus move in Ythe direction of the arrows on Figure 1. In

lsuch-fFigures as-l and 2 these chains-and the `a-worm and'worm gear drive. isxed a-.sprocket 39 which yis connected by a casingy 143 vmeshes with the worm wheel #l5 xed on the `shaft`2l which extends into the casing 38. erably'lthe sprocket ISI is connected to the shaft 20 on this shaft is xed a rollert. ofA brackets 64 are carried by vmembers 65 at each side of the ,opening- 5l. In the brackets Sli are vmounted adjustable bearing yblocks t6 the positions of each oi which in slots wheels carrying them are shown in diagram to avoid confusion of parts. l

In order to drive the shaft 2l there is provided a motor 29 mounted for vertical sliding movement on a base B xed to the leg IIl. This 5 motor is provided with a shaft ISI whereon is mounted a variable speed pulley 32 preferably of the type known as a Reeves variable speed pulley. This pulley is connected by a belt to a pulley 34 which is mounted on a shaft 35 jour 10 nailed in a bearing 36 xed to 'the leg Ill and in a bearing 3l forming part of a housing 3 8 for On the shaft 33 chain il with a sprocket /li'revolubly mounted 15 on av worm shaft i2 leading through the worm and carrying the worm lll which Prei- 42 b ya safety clutch 56. The motor 29 has its position onthe base by the adjusting screw il vvand hand wheel I8 so'that the adjustment or" 'pulley' 32 may be made by the adjustment of the motor. V25

v.The conveyor chains carry certain dough trays `which are generically indicated by the numeral '419; the trays in certain positions being indicated by 9 withaliteral sux as will be presently explained. Each of these trays consists or a trough.,30 shaped body 3G having closed ends 5I and provided with transverse partitions 52. At each end of each tray there is provided, at the center of -`the upper edge of said end, a pivot connection or hanger 53 which connects the tray with thei35 adjacent chain. By means of this'connection the vtrays'lil normally depend below the chains but may be swung ireely-about their pivots so that they may be inverted to discharge their contents.

4Extending transversely of the housing il ad-40` jacent the' housing ill is an upper transverse vconveyor or by-passing conveyor which is indicated'` in general at 54, and shown in detail in 'Figure 6. As there shown the frame Iii has an angle 55 extending between two upright members ".45

`56 of the frame I6, the members 56 being here passes. At the front of the casing there isa1so50 provided an opening 5l' through which the for- Yward end of the conveyor 565 passes. (See Fign ure vl). Brackets 58 are secured to the frame iS at-` each side of th'e opening 5ba. One only of these'brackets being shown. Each bracket 58 isp'55 provided with a bearing slot 5t wherein is mounted a bearing Gil held in the outer end of its slot by suitable means such as the bolt 'ESL The bearings Sil have a shaft 52 journalled therein and A similar pair 60 vertical frame 6l' is controlled by an adjusting screw. G8. Thef65 lbearings 66 support a shaft 63 carrying a roller 'IIL HAro'und the rollers 'E3 and "Ill is trained a there is provided a pair of side frames 'I3 depending below the floor of the leg I I at opposite sides Aof an opening 'M extending transversely of the Hoor. V-These frames project aconsiderable Vdis- 75 ber indicated ingeneral at 01. are equal in length and are pivotally` connected The member |01l ||8 and l I 9' depending from respective ends of tance lin front of the casing `and also project e the lever. From Figures 1` and 7 it will be seen somewhat to the rear of said casing and at each end of these frames there is fixed apair of brackets 15 of the same character as the brackets 58 and 04. Bearings 10 in the rear brackets 15 are fixed in the brackets as by a bolt 11 and support a shaft 18 carrying a roller 19. Adjustable bearings 80 in the front brackets support a shaft 8| whereon is a roller 82. A belt 83 is trained around the rollers 19 and 82. e

.'Ihese conveyors are drivenin the following manner. (Figures 2 and 6.) The Worm shaft 42 extends through the worm housing and carries a sprocket 84 which is connected by a chain `05 with a sprocket 80 mounted on a jack shaft 81. The shaft 81 is journalled in bearings 88 projecting rearwardly from the leg I 81 is xed a sprocket 09 which is connected by a chain 90 to a sprocket,` 9| xedon a shaft 92 whichis supported by brackets 93 carried by the` frames 13. On the shaft 92 is fixed a gear 94 which meshes with a gear 95 fixed'on the shaft 18. On the shaft 92 is fixed a roller 98 `which is` spaced above the belt 83. Also on the shaft 81 is fixed a sprocket 91 which is connected by a 50.1will pass down thechute |00 and be deposited on the conveyor 12 which will carry it to the rear of the proofer where it is received in a discharge chute |0| which preferably leads downwardly to a suitable moulder (not shown).

rSupported on the frame member is a bracket |02 including a pair of bearings |03 wherein are journalled a short shaft |04 and along shaft |05.' On these shafts is carried a pair ofparallel rocky arms E00. the arm |00 on the shaft A|05 being fixed to this shaft to rotate therewith. I The arms |00 extend upward from the bearings |03 and carry at their upper ends a tray inverting mem- The arms |06 to the member |01 as at |08. includes a body portion having a forward end |09 provided with an inclined vupper face |0=ex tending upward and rearwardly from the extremity of the end |09. At `its rear end this face H0 merges into a horizontal upper face extending along the middle of the body and merging rearwardly into a downwardly curving rear face ||2. Projecting from the member |01 towards the horizontal median plane of. the leg l I is aflange which has a rear yportion ||3 and a middle portion I4' having uppersurfaces conforming to the edge portions ||2 and of the body. From the forward end o-f the ange portion 1H0 the fiange merges by a curve` into a I face ||0 of the body. The shaft |05 extendsv rearwardly `to the outside of the casing and has its rear end supported from the brackets 58 asfat H6. `On the rear end of this shaft is-fixed the center of. a twoarmed 1everr||1 having pull rods .q

On the shaft y that pulling downwardly on the rod |.l81willrock the shaft |05 in a counter-clockwise direction and cause the member |01 tol be depressed to the dotted line or inactive position shown in Figure 7.

\ If the member |01 is in its inactive position and close to the periphery of the curved portion of the trough-like body of the tray and at the center of `such curved portion so that the pins are normally aligned vertically below the pivots 53. Themember |01, when raised, is positioned so that the rear ends of the trays pass close to the front side of the body of member |01 so that the member |01 will have its body in the path of the pins |20 and the ange in the path ofthe rearends of the trays. l Asa result of this construction when the member |01'is in its raised or active position and the main conveyor in motion each tray will move past `the `member |01. AsA it does this the pini |20 will'engage the lower part of the surface ||0. This may be seen at 49g in Figure 3. As the conveyor chains move along the bottom of tray willbe retarded and moved upwardly until it has beenrotated in a clockwise direction and the pin moves onto the face lll.

remaining half extending upwardly above the chain. The end portion of the downwardly extendinghalf of the `traywill now engage the yiiange portion H5 and effect further inverting movement of the tray until it `is completely inf verted as shown at 49h in Figure 3. As the tray is thus inverted the dough therein is dumped onto the conveyor 04.1 Further movement of the conveyor moves the tray along past the curved face 1| l2 and curved ange l|3 so that it continues to At this time the `tray will lie on its side with one-half ofits body projecting downwardly below the chain and its` into its normal dependingposition. The extent of movement of the member |01 is such thatin the. dotted line position of Figure 7 it will lie `what similar tray inverting and dumping mecha# nism |22 is positionedbelow `the lower run21 of the conveyor and in such relation to the conveyor 12 that inversionand dumping of the trays at this point will discharge the doughonto` conveyor 12. e

From `the foregoing it will be seen` that by moving the member |01 to inactive position the dough will travel though the path taken bythe severalhorizontal runs'ZKl,` 25, 204 and 21 to conveyor 12thus receiving full proofing according. to the'time set by regulating the speed of conveyor travel by the variable pulley or by the use, if`

desired, of a suitable `variable speed motor. It will also be seen thatif the member lill' be raised to active positionthe dough will be dumped practically'as `soon as it enters the proofing chamber proper as formed by the leg H and will be bypassed by way of the conveyor 54, chute |00 and chin'es constituting the dough handling line, the dough; may be proof'ed or notpasthe baker operativemay desire.

Therewi-ll now be described what is preferably v knovmas the delayed shelf loaf inverting mechanism. This` mechanism is here shown as arranged about midway of the path of the dough through the legl but may be positioned wherever` desired.: As shown in Figures 3 and 5 a tray invertingia'nddmnping member |23 is positioned betweenthe stretches 25 and 2E of the main conveyor and adjacent the drive wheels 2G. Since the lloaf inverting mechanism is always operative'the member is fixed in position to be constantly active. This member is similar to the member Hi? and has a downwardly inclined forward end IM, the words forward end being intended to indicate that end of the member |23 which first is engaged by theA tray. `The forward end: lllhas an upper edge surface H25 which inclines upwardly andk rearwardly from the extremity ofthe end l-2. The surface |25 merges at its rear upperend into the forward end of a horizontalY surface |25 forming the upper surface of the middle portion of the body of member |23. The surface |26 merges at its rear end into the forward end of' a rearwardly extending and downwardly curvedsurface |2'l'. On the side of the member nearer the middle of the leg is a flange having its forward end |28 steeply inclined upwardly and rearwardly and merging smoothly through a curved portion into a horizontal portion |29 which merges in turn into a rearwardly extending and downwardly `curved rear end por- The flange portion |29 is spaced well back from the inclined end |28 and the upper faces of the ange portions |29 and |30 are lateral continuations of the surfaces |26 and |25. As before, when the tray 43a moves in the direction of the arrows in Figure 3 the pin |23 contacts the surface |27 and' this retards and raises the bottom of the tray so that it begins to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction. This revolution continues until the tray is turned on its side so that substantially one-half of the tray projects below the chain and the-remainder projects upwardly. Due to this position further travel of tray causes theend of the downwardly projecting portion to engage the ange |23v and lthe tray assumes the position shown in 4gb. Still further movement of the conveyor causes the downwardly projecting portion to ride up over the flange portion |23 so that the tray is completely inverted and the end rests flat on the flange portion |29 as shown by the tray 590. From here the tray passes over the curved flange portion |27, tilts further in an anti-clockwisedirection and then 49 downwardly andV rearwardly and terminates in upwardlyspaced'relation' to the trays 49" carried by the conveyor stretch 26. Brackets |311 are secured to the fame |6 at the front and rear sides thereof and are positioned in rearwardly spaced relation to the Wall |32. These brackets are provided with aligned bearing portions wherein is journalleda shaft Brackets |36 are mounted in laterally spaced relation on the shaft E35. Onthe brackets |36 is fixed a rear ratus i3.

wall which normally nclin'es downwardly and forwardly from the 'shaft |35 so that it slants n a direction opposite `the forward wall |32, the structure thus-including a pair of transversely extending synclinal walls, one of which is fixed and the other movable about an axis parallel to and adjacentits upper edge. Between the walls |32 and |131 are partitions |38 having anticlinal side faces'so that the upper parts of these partitions are further apart than the lower parts and thepartitions are fixed to the Wall |32 and are free from the Wall |37. 'I'hese partitions equal in number the partitions 52 and end walls of each tray and are so spaced that they conform in spacing' to the partitions 52. From an inspection of Figures 3 and 5 it wil be seen that this delayed shelf instrumentality is so located that the loaves dumped from the trays arriving at the position of trayv 3b Wil be received in the instrumentality i3? and the partitions |33 will effectually separate the loaves so that, in the further movement of these loaves, they will be properly spaced and the condition termed doubling wil be prevented. Fixed on the shaft |35 at the end opposite the location of the member |23 is an arm |39 which is located out of the path taken by the bodies of the trays`-i-9.. This arm extends at the same inclination vasl the wall |37 and lies in the path of the pivots 53. This arm has at its upper end a rearwardly extending horizontal portion |40 and this arm carries a counterweight Htl and the arm andi counterweight serve to hold the wall |311 normally against th'erear edges of the partitions'` |38. Referringespecially to Figure 5 it will be there seen that the tray 19h has dumped its load, as diagrammatically indicated at M2, into the appa- At this time the pivot 53 of the tray 33o is riding on the extension |40 of the arm |39. Also the tray 43j is approaching a point at which it will be in position to receive loaves from the instrumentality |3|. Continuation of the movement of the conveyork causes the pivot 53 of tray Se to pass off the extension |130 and it is particularly to be noted that the dough loavesare held in apparatus |3i after dumping for a time sufficient -to permit the movement of the pivot 53 above mentioned. The Wall or shelf |3`| is thus delayed inaction until the extension Mis free to swing upwardly about the axis of the shaft |35. As' soon as this occurs the weight of the dough overcomes the action of the counterweight |4| and the-wall or shelf |37 tilts downwardly allowing the dough to drop. Since the tray 49e has moved the tray '5537' has also moved and at the instant of the freeing of the extension IMJ-the tray ttf wilbe in position to receive the loaves released from the instrumentality |3|. After the wallV |3l has lmoved to release the dough and thela-t'ter.` has dropped, the counterweight i60-restores the wall to its normal position so thatthe nextpivotvt of tray liilb will lock the extension l@ against'movement ready for the dumping of tray 39a, the operation being repeated for each tray.

The tray inverting and dumping mechanism |22lislpreferably of the same type as that just described, being provided with an inverting member |112 and a delayed shelf instrumentality |43 so that the conveyor receivesfits load with the loaves in properly spaced relation to feed effectively to the moulder.

lWhile one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described it is to be understood that this is but' one of many embodimentsof lsuch invention. For instance, the leg 75" cludingatiltableshelf for supportingl dumped Il mayhavea greater or less number of stretches ,without departing from the essential principles involved. It is to be understood therefore that the it'onto the third conveyor.

invention is notte be limited to the specific embodiment herein set forth but is to be interpreted as of the full scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention,lwhat is claimed as new, is: i i l 1. In a proofer having an elongated casing, and a conveyor travelling into and longitudinally of said casing, said conveyor entering the casing at onev end fthereof, a second conveyor extending transversely of the casing vbeneath thel first conveyor adjacent its point of entry of the rst 4conveyor into said casing, means f or eifecting discharge of the material carried by the first con- `veyor onto` the second conveyor, said` casing having a discharge `opening below the rst cena veyor and adjacent the end of movement of said first conveyor through the casing, a third conveyor at said discharge opening and 4extending transversely beneath the iirst conveyor, and transfer meansleading from the second conveyor to the third conveyor. l

`2. In a proofer, horizontal elongatedcasing` having'a conveyor inlet opening at oneend, a`

conveyor extending longitudinally of the casing from said opening and including Ia series of spaced invertible dough trays, a second conveyor extending transversely through the casing vbelow the rst `conveyor adjacent said inlet o-pening,` a trayinverting mechanisrnpositioned in said casing for successive engagement by said trays as they pass over the second conveyor, said casing having a discharge opening past which the first conveyor moves, a third conveyorextending transversely of the casing and below the rstconveyor at said discharge opening, a tray inverting mechanisrn at said discharge opening for effecting discharge ofthe tray contents onto saidA third con-` veyor, and a chute positioned to receive dough from the second conveyor and discharge itlonto the third conveyor.

i 3. Inr a proofer, horizontal` elongated casing havinga conveyor inlet opening at one end, a conveyor extending longitudinally of the casing from said opening and including a series of spaced invertible dough trays, a second conveyor extending transversely through the casing below the first conveyor adjacent said inlet opening, a tray inverting mechanism positionedin said vcasing for succesive engagement by said trays as they pass over the second' conveyor, dough guide means disposed above'said second conveyor in position to receive dough from thelinverted trays, said casing having a discharge opening past which therst conveyor moves, a third `conveyor extending transversely of the' casing and belowf the first conveyor at `said discharge opening, a tray inverting mechanism at said discharge opening Ifor effecting discharge of the tray contents-onto said third conveyor, and a chute positionedito receive dough from the second conveyor and discharge f 4. In a proofer, a conveyor including spaced and invertible dough trays, said conveyor havingan upper stretch and a lower stretch parallel to the upper stretch, means to successively invert v dough and havingy a-tilt restraining element, said ltrays having means alternately engaging andreleasing said restrainingl element as vthe trays pass `above said tiltable shelf; i

5.- In 'a proofer, aconveyor including "spaced `and invertible dough trays, saidoonveyor having `an upper stretch and az'lower stretch parallel to the upper stretch,` means tosuccessively invert and dump the trays of the upper stretch, means to lreceive and 1 temporarily hold the dough dumped from saidtrays, said lastmeans including a pairof synclinal forwardand rear walls extending transversely below the upper flight,

one of` said walls being xed andthe other wall conveyor and tiltable wall alternately holding the wall against tilting and releasing it for-tilting,

said coacting means` including means on said pass over the tiltable wall.

6. In a proofer, Aa conveyor including spaced and invertible doughltrays,`said conveyor having an upper stretch and a lowerstretch parallel to the upper stretch, meansto successively invert and dump the trays of the upper stretch, means to receive and temporarily hold` the dough dumped from said trays, saidlast 'means intrays and meansfon the tiltable wal-l wherewith the means on the trays cooperate assaid trays cluding a pair of synclinal'forward and rear walls extending transversely below the upper flight, one of said wallsbeing xed and-the other wall being tiltable and constituting a delayed action shelf tending to tilt and release dough from said i means, and coacting means associated vwith the conveyor and tiltable wall alternately holding the wall `against tiltingy and releasing it `for tilting,

said coactingimeans including means on said trays and -means on `the tiltable wall wherewith the means `on the trays cooperate as said trays` pass-over thextiltable wall, said coactingjmeans being constructed' and varrangedto release the tilting-shelf in timed relation to thepassage of a tray in said lower stretch to position to'receive the `dough released `bysad tilting wall!` 7. In a `proofer, aconveyor includingspac'ed and invertible dough trays, said conveyor having an upper stretch'and a lower stretch parallel to the upper "stretch, means to successively invert i and dump the trays of the upper stretch, means beingtiltablefand constituting a delayed action shelf tending "to4 tilt and releasedough from said means, coactingv means associated with the conveyor and vtiltable .wall alternatelyholding the wall againsttilt'ing and releasing it for tilting, and a counterweightasso'ciated withsaid tilting wall and normally holding it in dough receiving position.\` i l V 8. In combination,a main conveyor,\a pair of transverse conveyors extending below said main conveyor at` spacedpoints' in the length of the main conveyoneach of said transverse conveyors having a load receiving portion and a load clisso; f

charging portion, means for effecting transfer. of

material from the discharge portion` of one transav i verse conveyor to thev receiving-portion of the second conveyor, Vand means for causing` dis- -tively to the transverse conveyors.

9. In combination, a main conveyor, a pair of transverse Vconveyors extending below said main conveyor at spaced points in the length of the main conveyor, eachof said transverse conveyors having a load receiving portion and a load discharging portion, means for effecting transfer of material from 'the discharge portion of one transverse conveyor to the receiving portion of the and dump the trays of the upper stretch, `means,

to receive and temporarily hold the dough Adumped from saidr trays, said "last means including a pair ofV synclinal forward and rear walls extending transversely 'below the upper flight,

oneiof said walls 'being fixed and the other wall beingtiltable and constituting a delayed action shelfY tending rto tilt Vand release dough from said means, .coacting means associated with the conveyor and tiltable wall alternately holding the `wall against tilting and releasing it vfor tilting, said coacting means being constructed and arranged' to release the tilting shelf in timed relation vto the passage -o'f a tray in said lower stretch to position to receivethe `dough released by said tilting wall and a counterweight associated with said tilting-wallandfnormally holding it in dough receiving position.

'11. In'a proofer, a conveyor including spaced and. invertible dough trays, said 'conveyor having an upper stretch and a lowerstret'ch parallel to .the upper stretch, means to successively invert and 'dump thetrays` of the-upper stretch, means to receive and temporarily hold the dough dumpedfrom said' trays, said last means including a =pair 'of 'synclinal forward and rear walls extending vtransversely 'below the upper iiight, one of saidwallsbeingf'xed and'fthe other wall being tiltable and constituting a delayedl action shelf tendingto tilt and `release dough from said means, coacting means associated"vrith'the conveyor and 'tiltable wall lalternately"holding the wall yagainst tilting and releasing it for tilting, each :tray Ybeing lprovided with spaced ytransverse compartment forming Apartitions, l.and Ipartitions carried .by theisaidixed wall-and1 spaced 4to conform-to Ythe .spacing .ofthe .tray partitions.

l2. In-,a proofer, a conveyor including spaced and invertible dough trays, said conveyor .having an upper stretch anda lower stretch parallel to the upper stretch, means to successively invert and dump the trays'of the upper stretch, means to receive and temporarily hold vthe dough dumped from said'trays, saidlastmeans including 'a pair ofsynclinal forward and rear walls extending transversely ybelow the upper flight, one of said walls being fixed and the otherwall being `tiltable and `constituting a delayed action shelf tendingto tilt and release dough 'from said means, coacting-means associated with the conveyor rand tiltable wall alternately holding the wall against tilting and releasing it for tilting, said Acoacting means including means on said traysand Ameans on the tiltable wall wherewith the means on lthe trays cooperate as said trays pass over=the tiltablevwall, -said coacting means charge ofmaterial from the main conveyorselec- 'being constructed and arranged to release the `tilting shelf in timed relation to the passage of a tray `in said lower stretch to position to receive the dough released by said tilting wall, each tray being provided with spaced transverse compartment forming-partitions, and partitions carried Aby the said xed wall and spaced to conform to the spacing of the tray partitions.

13. In a .proofer, a conveyor including spaced and invertible dough trays, said conveyor having an'upper stretch and a lower stretch parallel to the upper stretch, means to successively invert and dump the trays of the upper stretch, means to receive and temporarily hold the dough dumped from said trays, said last means including a pair of synclinal forward and rear walls extending Vtransversely below the upper iiight, yone of said walls being fixed and the other wall being tiltable and constituting a delayed action shelf tending to tilt and release dough from said means, coacting means associated with the conveyor and tiltable wall alternately holding the Wall against tilting and releasing it for tilting, a counterweight associated with ksaid tilting wall yand normally holdingit in dough receiving position, each tray being provided with spaced transverse compartment forming partitions, and partitions carried by the said fixed wall and spaced to conform to the spacing of the tray partitions.

le. In ya proofer, a conveyorincluding spaced and invertible dough trays,.said conveyor having Aan upper stretch and a lower stretch parallel 'to the upper stretch, means to successively invert and dump the trays ofthe upper stretch, means to receive and temporarily Vhold the dough dumped from said trays, said last means including a pair 'of synclinal forward and rear walls extending transversely below the upper flight,

one of said walls being xed and the other wall being tiltable and constituting a delayed action form to the vspacing of the tray partitions, the

partitions-carried yby said fixed wall having anticlinal side faces whereby the compartments formed thereby are longer at the top thanat vthe bottom. v

l5. `In a .proofer, a conveyor including spaced andinvertible-olough trays, said conveyor having an upper :stretch'and a lower stretch parallel to the Vupper stretch, 'means to successively invert andy dump'the trays of the upper stretch, means to receive and temporarily hold the dough dumped frornsaid trays, said last meansincludinga pair vof synclinal forward and rear walls extending transversely below the upper ight, oneof saidwallsbeing fixed and the other wall being tiltable and constituting a delayed action shelf tending to tilt and release dough from said means, coactingmeans associated with the conveyor' and tiltable wall alternately holding the Wall against tilting and releasing it for tilting, said coacting means including means on said trays and means on the tiltable wall wherewith the "meanson the trays cooperate as said trays pass'over Athe tiltable wall, said coacting means being constructed and arranged to release the tilting's'helf intimed relation to the passage of a tray in fsaid lower stretch to position to receive theA dough-'released by said4 tiltingwall, yeachtray I .dumped from said trays, said last means includbeing provided with spaced transverse compartment forming partitions, and partitions carried by the said fixed wall and spaced to conform to the spacing of the tray partitions, the partitions carried by said fixed Wall having anticlinal side faces whereby the compartments formed thereby are longer at the top than at the bottom.

ing a pair of synclinal forward and rearward Walls extending transversely below the upper flight, one of said Walls being xed and the other than at the bottom.

wall being tiltable and constituting a delayed action shelf tending to tilt and release dough from said means, coacting means associated with the conveyor and tiltable wall alternately holding the wall against tilting and releasing it for tilting, a counterweight associated with said tilting wall and normally holding it in dough receiving position, each tray being provided `with spaced transverse compartment forming partitions, and partitions carried by the said fixed wall and spaced to conform to the spacing of the tray partitions, the partitions carried by said xed wall having anticlinal side faces whereby the compartments formed thereby are longer at the top BERNARD A. EVANS. 

